Rescuing the Lido in Brockwell Park was a real community effort. In the last five years many people have devoted their time and expertise to save the Olympic size outdoor pool and its Art Deco buildings from demolition and turn it into a thriving community hub – at no cost to the tax payer. The imaginative restoration included a state of the art gym, studios and sauna, which finance the open air pool. It’s also home to various interest groups from yoga classes to after school groups, urban dance, triathlons and model submariners.

 

The Lido could be named the UK’s Best Heritage Project - an amazing achievement for everyone involved. You can follow its progress on Facebook, and as a finalist, the Lido will appear on a special star-studded BBC1 programme, The National Lottery: Big 7, transmitted live on Saturday 5th September 2009.

 

 “We’re so chuffed”, says Gethan Dick, Heritage and Education Officer at the Lido. “If we win, the £2000 prize money will be ploughed back into our education programme with local youngsters where they learn about history and water safety. They leave knowing this is somewhere safe that they can come and have fun”.

Voting kicks off (today) at 9am on August 3 and ends at midday on August 14. To help the Lido win you can vote (free) at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards, click on the Best Heritage Project category and cast your vote!